Alberta Election: Who are the province's new MLAs?
Nurses, union stewards and school board trustees among the newly-elected
They were electricians, nurses and sociology students when Tuesday began. Now, they are Alberta's new government.
The NDP's historic win catapulted the party from four seats into a majority government. Because of that victory, dozens of rookie NDP MLAs are now destined for the legislature.
The group of new MLAs has its share of lawyers, small-business owners and union officials just like every other party.But that doesn't tell the full story of who will now be running Alberta. Here's a look at some of the new rookie MLAs.
David Shepherd Edmonton-Centre
Shepherd's resum covers some wide territory. Formerly a musician and sound engineer, Sheppard has also worked in communications for the federal, provincial and Edmonton municipal governments. Now, he can add MLA to that list, after defeating popular Liberal candidate andAlberta's longest-serving opposition MLA, Laurie Blakeman, in Edmonton-Centre. Describing himself as an avid cyclist, he can likely ride his bike to his new Legislature office, seeing as it is located in his riding.
Deborah Drever Calgary-Bow
DanielleLariveeLesser Slave Lake
A registered nurse,Lariveeis one of the rookieMLAswho helped the NDP break into Alberta's rural ridings, which was instrumental in securing the majority. Lariveeis far from the only medical worker among the NDP's candidates; several registered nurses were among the ranks of candidates, and doctor Bob Turner was able to bump off former health minister StephenMandelin Edmonton.
Sarah Hoffman Edmonton-Glenora
Brandy Payne Calgary-Acadia
There have been a few barbs launched on social media over Brandy Payne's background as a yoga instructor. But the new MLA for Calgary-Acadia has also worked as a journalist, an education advocate in B.C., and has a stint in the oil-and-gas sector in her background. She was able to wrestle the riding away from incumbent Jonathan Denis, who resigned as Alberta's justice minister shortly before the election due to a legal dispute with his wife.
Shaye Anderson Leduc-Beamont
NicoleGoehringEdmonton-Castle Downs
Going up against an incumbent is a daunting task, but even more so in Alberta when that incumbent is both a Progressive Conservative and the former deputy premier. Still,Geohringwas part of the Orange Wave that swept through Edmonton, beating out ThomasLukaszukin Edmonton-Castle Downs. A social worker who has worked in both the Calgary and Edmonton education systems,Goehringis an active member of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, the province's largest union.